Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62574 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Cost Effectiveness, what savings he expects to make from the FCDO2030 change programme in each of the next five years.

As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Spending Review settlement, we will invest £290 million in capability-building and digital tools that will transform how we work over the coming years. FCDO will be a more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. We anticipate a significant reduction in terms of headcount across all staff by the end of 2028/29.

What recent progress has been made by the Coalition of the Willing on Ukraine.

Since the Coalition of the Willing Summit in London in March 2025, the UK and France have co-led military planning efforts and brought together over 30 countries at four leader level events including one in Kyiv. The Prime Minister and President Macron convened a Leader Level Coalition of the Willing meeting on 10 July 2025, confirming the development of mature operational plans to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased, to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and to regenerate Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his speech at the British Chambers of Commerce on 20 March 2025, how many diplomats have been seconded to businesses since 20 March 2025; what the (a) cost and (b) staffing requirement will be of the Diplomatic Advisory Hub; which priority markets have been identified; whether he has set (i) targets and (ii) key performance indicators for ambassadors in priority markets; when he plans to announce the programme of domestic roadshows; on which dates the quarterly Lancaster House Business Engagement Series will take place in (A) 2025 and (B) future years; and which ambassadors have produced Strategic Economic Growth Plans.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is driving UK growth across the new Industrial Strategy's priority sectors through Strategic Economic Growth Plans. These prioritise markets with the biggest potential to drive UK Growth, including the EU, the US and China, and a range of other economically important markets, such as India and Japan. The Foreign Secretary chairs regular Delivery Boards to monitor and accelerate delivery across the FCDO towards the Government's Growth Mission, for which key performance indicators are being developed, and agreed. The FCDO is planning a number of events for the Lancaster House Business Engagement Series, including a first event set for July. The FCDO is progressing work on a range of business placements, the first due later this year, and working with the British Chambers of Commerce on plans for the Diplomatic Advisory Hub.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 7 October 2024 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations, Official Report, column 46, on what evidential basis he stated that the UK has the right to extend the 99 year period.

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement in October 2024, the UK negotiated a right to extend the duration of the Treaty beyond 99 years. This formed part of the negotiations with the Government of Mauritius and was subsequently included in Article 13 of the Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the earlier draft of the UK-Mauritius Treaty from October 2024 gave the UK a unilateral right to extend the lease after the initial 99 year period.

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to Parliament in October 2024, the UK negotiated a right to extend the duration of the Treaty beyond 99 years. This was subsequently included in Article 13 of the Treaty.

What payments to Mauritius under the UK-Mauritius Treaty will be included in the UK’s calculation of the (a) 3.5% core defence spending and (b) defence-related investments.

The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 7 October 2024 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations, Official Report, column 46, on what evidential basis he stated that Mauritius will authorise us to exercise their sovereign rights and authorities in respect of Diego Garcia.

This formed part of the negotiations with the Government of Mauritius and was subsequently included in Article 2 of the Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62581 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, whether his Department has made an estimate of the (a) yearly payment schedules for the duration of the lease and (b) related inflationary uplifts; and what estimate he has made of cash payments to Mauritius in years (i) one to 10, (ii) 11 to 20, (iii) 21 to 30, (iv) 31 to 40, (v) 41 to 50, (vi) 51 to 60, (vii) 61 to 70, (viii) 71 to 80, (ix) 81 to 90 and (x) 90 to 99 of the lease.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer to her previous question 57197.

Whether operations conducted by special forces will be subject to the notifications requirements of paragraph 2 of Annex 1 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

As per longstanding Government policy, I can neither confirm nor deny information relating to UK Special Forces.Annex 1, paragraph 2 of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty, once it has entered into force, will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information and will not require prior notification of any military operation.Moreover, Article 3(2) of the treaty states that Mauritius cannot undermine, prejudice or otherwise interfere with the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base on Diego Garcia, and that Mauritius shall cooperate to that end.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization’s 2025 session statement published in June 2025 (GA/COL/3393) on the sovereignty of Gibraltar.

The UN press release summarising part of the annual discussions of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C24) has no implications for UK Government policy towards Gibraltar, including UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. The Government believes the C24 is outdated, and no longer has a relevant role to play with respect to the UK Overseas Territories. The Government does, however, support the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the C24 directly. As the press release makes clear, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar welcomed the 11 June UK-EU agreement regarding Gibraltar's future relationship with the European Union and that he envisaged a new and more positive relationship with Spain as a consequence of it. The treaty text will make clear that it in no way affects sovereignty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization’s 2025 session Resolution adopted in June 2025 (GA/COL/3394) on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

The Government is clear: it is for the people of the Falkland Islands only to decide their future and the Government has no doubt about the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supported the Falkland Islanders to address the UN Decolonization Committee in person when it considered the Falkland Islands on 18 June. We will resolutely defend their sovereignty and rights as I and ministerial colleagues have made repeatedly clear.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the statement in the House of Lords of 30 June 2025, made by the Minister for Africa on the resettlement of Chagossians on the Chagos Archipelago and the Chagossian trust fund under the terms of the UK-Mauritius Treaty HL col 534, (a) when he expects to present a statement to Parliament and (b) whether the decision to commit to provide a statement was agreed with the Government of Mauritius.

As the Minister for Africa made clear to the House, ahead of ratification, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement in both Houses providing a factual update on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the trust fund. This will enable further discussion in a proper manner.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the resolution passed on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands taken at the Organization of American States General Assembly on 27 June 2025.

The Government is clear: it is for the people of the Falkland Islands only to decide their future and the Government has no doubt about the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination. The Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean, represented the UK at the Organization of American States General Assembly, reaffirming the UK Government's commitment to the Falkland Islanders and their democratic rights. We will resolutely defend their sovereignty and rights as I and ministerial colleagues have made repeatedly clear.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding requests his Department has received from the Government of Mauritius to support the establishment of a marine protected area in accordance with Article 5 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

UK support for the establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) around the Chagos Archipelago is being discussed with Mauritius as part of the implementation of the Treaty. The UK will not be making any additional direct payments to Mauritius as part of this activity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the UN on the (a) remit and (b) activities of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization.

The Foreign Secretary and other Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ministers have not held meetings with the UN Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples ('C24'). The Deputy Permanent Representative of the UK Mission to the UN last met the C24 Bureau on 5 February.The Government supports the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the C24 directly. Ahead of the C24 discussion on the Falkland Islands on 18 June 2025, the Foreign Secretary and FCDO Ministers engaged a range of C24 members on the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding from the public purse has been used to support the Marine Protected Area around the British Indian Ocean Territory in each year since 2010.

The British Indian Ocean Territory Administration has responsibility for the management and monitoring of its Marine Protected Area, including the funding to support this.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the membership of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization on the decisions that it makes in respect of UK overseas territories.

The Government continues to believe the UN Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Special Committee) is outdated and no longer has a relevant role to play with respect to the UK Overseas Territories.For those Territories with permanent populations who wish it, the Government will continue to support requests for the removal of the Territory from the United Nations list of 'non-self-governing Territories'. Furthermore, the Government supports the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the Special Committee directly. In 2025, the UK has supported representatives from the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, and the British Virgin Islands to appear at the Special Committee's annual considerations of their respective Territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in the Government of Mauritius on (i) the Chagossian Trust Fund and (ii) the programme of visits and settlements on the Chagos Archipelago since 22 May 2025.

These issues are being discussed with Mauritius as part of the implementation of the Treaty. Ahead of ratification, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement in both Houses providing a factual update on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the trust fund.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 60851 on Gibraltar: Sovereignty, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the sovereignty clause on Gibraltar.

The sovereignty clause safeguards UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. It makes clear that the Treaty is explicitly not about Gibraltar's sovereignty. We are steadfast in our support for Gibraltar, which remains a critical part of our wider UK family.This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether papers from the previous Government were disclosed to Ministers in the Administration relating to the UK-Mauritius negotiations.

The Government has complied with the guidance set out in the Cabinet Manual on the access to papers of a previous administration.